Life preserver



Jul s 1924; 1,500,665

A. BLANKENHAGEN LI FE PRESERVER Filed May 27, 1922 June-"T01 allozuvq Patented July 8, 1924.

ALBERT ZBLANKENHAGEN, 0F AKRON, oHIo, AssreNoa To A. a. BAUMA'N, or AKRON, OHIO.

LIFE PRESERVER.

Application filed May 27,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT BLANKEN- HAGEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the. county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Life Preservers, of which the following is a specification.

A further advantage of my invention is secured by reason of the fact that in view of the particular construction and type of material employed therein, the device may be applied to a relatively large number of ifndividuals of differentsize without discomort.

With these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the drawings, in which like'numerals indicate corresponding parts, and then more fully pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a representation of an individ ual provided with a life preserver constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the life preserver shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 83 ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view' taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 2, and,

Figure 5 illustrates, in cross section, a view of a'connecting member utilized in the construction of the device of my invention.

My invention relates to life preservers and it has, for its primary object, the provision of a device of theabove designated character which shall afford a high degree of safety, and which shall be particularly usefulin enabling individuals to learn to swim.

It is, of course, well known that the dea velopment in this art is well advanced, but,

particular object of my invention is 'to' provide a device which may be not only utilized in cases of unexpected and extreme danger from drowning, but which shall also The prin- 1922. Serial No. 564,011.

be especially adapted to be secured upon the body of a person learning to swim. The

special advantage of my invention resides in the fact that a swimmer is permitted free movement of his limbs to accomplish locomotion through the water without in any way detracting from the effectiveness of the device.

For example, a swimmer may rest upon the water either upon his back or upon his chest and obtain the protection afforded by the added buoyancy secured .by the attachment of my invention.

Since it is of paramount importance that devices of the. character of my invention shall afford a high degree of safety, another object of my invention resides in providing a plurality of fluid containers, each of which affords a material degree of added buoyancy to the body to which it is attached. The containers, furthermore, are, independently inflated, which of course, obviates the danger of sudden .collapse by perforation or puncture at a single point.

A further object of my invention is the construction of a device which shall be formed of durable, tough and flexible material, which consequently resists wear and is not easily destroyed by reason of being perforated or punctured. v

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device which maybe rightly secured to the body of a wearer, and still permit of free movement of the limbs.

In practicing my invention I'provide a life preserver by constructing a plurality of fluid containers, each of which is formed of a plurality of sheets of vulcanizable material connected together along their ed es and at intermediate spaced points. onneoting members of vulcanizable material, which are substantially of I-shape in cross-section, are utilized to connect the sheets of vulcanizable material at intermediate points. The fluid containers are each provided with a valve, whereby they may be inflated by air or other suitable medium. The containers are connected in spaced relation by means of a plurality of elastic straps, and a looped strap preferably of elastic material is secured to the free end of each container to afford means to attach the assembled preserver to the body of an individual by means of a belt or other suitable fastening means.

In order to insure a clear and, accurate understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the drawings, with particular attention to Figure 2. As here shown, a life preserver constructed in accordance with my invention comprises fluid containers 1 and 2, each of which is constructed in a similar manner and a description of one will suffice for both. The containers are formed of a sheet or a plurality of sheets of flexible material 3, such as fabric impregnated or treated with a rubber compound. If a single sheet of material is utilized it is tapered from its intermediate point and the smaller ends brought into engagement, whereby a tapered body is provided which is connected along its edges to form a container and at intermediate points by connecting members 4:.

The construction of the connecting members 4: is particularly shown in Figure 5 as consisting of a plurality of sheets of vulcanizable material bent and disposed in en gagement to provide a member of substantially I -shape in cross-section. These members are formed of material similar to that utilized in forming the containers 3, and when the rubber compound is in an uncured state, the members may be readily attached to the containers at the points desired before vulcanization thereof. The members 4 are disposed in position, as shown in Figure 2, before the edges of the sheet or sheets of material 3 are secured together, after which the assembled body may be vulcanized at the same time. In order to connect the container 1 and 2 together to be mounted upon a body of an individual, a plurality of straps 5, having bifurcated ends 6 are utilized. The straps 5 are formed of an elastic material, such as rubber, and the bifurcated ends 6 are disposed to engage opposite sides of the edges of each container, where they are vulcanized in place when the remainder of the body is subjected to heat.

In order to provide means for securing the free ends of the container to the body of an individual, a plurality of looped straps 7 are utilized. These may consist of straps of elastic rubber, one ofwhich is attached to each end of the container by forming aloop of the strap 7 and engaging its ends with the end of the container where it is vulcanized in'po'sition. In order to provide means forginflating the containers independently, 'a valve 8 is suitably secured in the end of each of the containers, as indicated in the drawings.

It will be, observed, from the foregoing description, that a plurality of fluid containers are provided which are secured together byelastic means permitting one of the containers to be disposed upon the chest and the other upon the back of the individual. The free ends of the containers are or other suitable device 9, which is fitted through the straps 7.

The intermediate connecting members 4:

are not absolutely essential to the construction of the device, but they tend to maintain the fluid containers in a more flat condition than would be the case otherwise, and, consequently, provide a neater device. Furthermore, the additional connecting members add to the safety of the device inasmuch as the spaced walls of each con tainer are more firmly secured in place, and separation is more eflectively resisted.

It will be appreciated that, in view of the employment of the elastic straps to coin nect the fluid containers-in spaced relation, the device is adapted for individuals of different sizes without materially afiecting the function of the device, or offering discomfort to the wearer.

Although I have shown and specifically described a device constructed in accordance with my invention, it will be appreciated that minor changes may be made in its construction without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, and I desire, there fore, that no limitations shall be imposed except such as are indicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is: a

1. A life preserver comprising in combination a plurality of independently inflatable fluid containers each formed of a single sheet of flexible material connected together along its edges and at intermediate points, a plurality of elastic straps connecting the containers in spaced relation, a plurality of I looped elastic straps secured to the free ends of the containers, and a belt fitting into the looped straps for attaching the containers to the body of the wearer.

2. A life preserver comprising in combination a plurality of fluid containers each formed of vulcanizable sheet material connected along its edges and at spaced intermediate points by independent connecting members, independent means for inflating each container, parallel elastic straps connecting the containers in spaced relation,a plurality of looped elastic straps connected to the free ends of the containers, and a belt fitted into the looped straps for attach ing the containers upon the body of a 3. A-life preserver comprising a plurality of non-communicating fluid containers each formed of a single sheet of vulcanizable material connected along their edges and at spaced intermediate points by independent connecting members, independent means for inflating each container, a plurality of elastic straps having bifurcated ends connecting the containers in spacedrelation, a looped elastic strap connectedto the free end of each container, and means fitted into the looped straps for attaching the conhaving bifurcated ends connecting the containers upon the body of a wearer. tainers in spaced relation, a plurality of 4. A life preserver comprising in comlooped elastic straps connected to the free bination a plurality of fluid containers each ends of the containers, and means fitted formed of vulcanizable sheet material coninto the looped straps for attaching the conl nected along the edges of the containers and tainers upon the body of a wearer. at spaced intermediate points by independ- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ent connecting members of substantially I- my hand. shape in cross-section, means for inflating 10 the containers, a plurality of elastic straps ALBERT BLANKENHAGEN. 

